Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-01-13

conscience even of the Mormons. He did
not care wnat Mormon believed, but ne
must not put his belief into acts if thereby
he intringed the rights of any other man.
PoLYGANIY A CRIME.
What was polygamy' 1t was a crime
by the law of every State in Christendom.
Ever since Christ interpreted the Judaic
law and gave out: Therefore shall man
leave father and mother and cleave unto
his wife, and they twain" "They twain, -
and not whole bundle. Laughter and
applause. Ever since Christ uttered
that sentiment all Christian nations bad
adopted monogamy. lApplause,l The
nucleus of the nation was in the homes OF
the people. One man and one woman
One man loving supremely none but her,
and one woman loving aupremely
none but him. Thank God. there were
such homes yet. Applause. That was
the foundation Of the body polite. With
out it there would not be Christian
state that would be fit to live in. Ap-
plause. lu Utah the heart OF the nus.
0and was dltiuSed among a number.
Ihat was the basis OF a civilization that
went out 1000 years ago, except in Asia.
ours was the basic principle of the civilI-
zation of to-day; MormOnism that OF the
ancient. Could they be brought together
Could they lie side by side? Was there a
man who would vote to admit the polyga-
NOUS State of Utah into the Union
Cries OF No." "No."l.
THE DUTY OF CONGRESS-.
Then what was Congress TO do? The
gentleman from Utah Mr.. Caine) said
wait, il we are wrong we will sink"
But the government wanted Utah as one
of the States of the Union. Why did il
uOf inv Rnpa1al tharo
900 Mormons who would establish polyg
amy as one Of the institutions of that
state. 1t was the duty of Congress to
prepare Utah to come into the Union, and
TO prepare 1t by eXtlrpatlng and roofing
out that which was alien to the genius OF
our institutions. He believed that If this
bill were enacted into law
and supplemented by the propos-
I'd constitutional amendment Nor
monism would 60 to lIeces-
ue meant as pOlygamous institution
and that Utah would be peopied by a free
people and would be ready to come Into
the Union. He was gong out of public
life and if he could do anything to estab-
llsh proper system IN this unfortunate
Territory TO uproot this thing that had
been blot upon its fame and permit it
to come into the free sIst6rhOod OF States
based on the idea OF Christian homes, he
would leel that his humble public lite
would not be in vain. Loud and long
continued applausel.
Mr.. Scout, OF Pennsylvania, asked leave
to offer an amendment to the bill.
Mr.. Tucker declined to permit him to
do so, saying that he wanted to pass the
Dill here and now, so that the 12th of jan
uary, 1887, would be memorable in the
history OF the country. Applausel
The House substitute was agreed to,
and the Senate bill as thus amended was
passed without division, only eight men,
b4rs rising to demand the yeas ana nays.
The House then adjourned.
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL.
The anti-Mo mon bill as 1T passed the
House to-day, by the adoption Of Mr.. Tuck
er's substitute for Mr.. Edmunds' Senate
bill makes the lawful husband or wife OF
any person prosecuted Tor bgamy, poly
gamy, or uniawtui c0habitation a COM
petent witness against the accused, and
further provides tor the registration of all
marriages, making it a mlsdemeanor for
any person TO violate the provisions rela.
tive TO such registration. 1t annuls AL
Terri orial laws providing for the linden j.
fcation of voters for electors at any
election, and also all laws cOnierring
on Territorial courts power to determine
divorce cases and aboIshes woman sui
frage in the Territory OF Utah. Penalties
are prescribed for unlawful intercourse,
and polygamy is defined as marriage
between one person of one sex and more
than one person OF another Sex and is de-
clared TO be felony. The financial COL
pOrations known as the Church OF Latter
Day Saints and the Perpetual Emigration
Fund Company are dissolved, and the At
torney General is directed to wind them
up by process OF Court; and all laws for
the organization Of the militia of
lhe Territory and the creation of the
NauVoc legion are annulled. Poly
gamsts are made ineligible to vote
and test oath Is prescribed to all per-
sons desiring 10 vote that they Will obey
the laws of the United States and espe-
cally the laws in respect to the crimes
defined in this and the original Edmunds
act. The bill provides for the Immediate
appointment Dy the President of all
Judges and selectmen of the county ana
probate courts, and by the Governor OF
all justices OF the peace, sherlffs, cOnsta-
bles, and other county and district
officers. The bill as amended by the
adoption of the substitute VIII now be-
transmitted to the Senate Tor the action
of that body.